By Felicity Bonello

There’s no journey quite like that of motherhood. And between working through what sleep routines, foods and clothing is right for each individual parent and child, there’s the whole concept of skincare to investigate. We caught up with three incredible mums to find out how they navigate their natural skincare journey, what they are continuing to learn throughout the process, as well as a few tips and tricks that have worked for them and their precious bubs along the way.

JULIA ASHWOOD

The founder and creative force behind The Vista, Julia is also mum to (almost) five year old Delilah, and 2.5 year old son, Alby.

Detoxing your beauty/skin routine is empowering. What does clean beauty mean to you?
Clean beauty to me is choosing natural, ethical, and organic – which is both good for you and the environment. I feel like there is a lot of great energy and awareness in the arena of clean beauty these days and that’s a great thing to see.

What was the catalyst for you in opting for natural skincare?
100 per cent my pregnancy. It was the first time I had really scrutinised my daily routines, diet and skincare. I started with a natural deodorant and my love for natural skincare grew from there.

Is there a new product(s) or a brand within the natural beauty space that you’re in love with right now?
Yes! Mukti Organics live and breathe natural beauty. Their founder even released a book/virtual bible last year ‘Truth in Beauty’. From their serums and cleansers to masques and even collagen powders every single ingredient is 100 percent certified organic and their face, body and hair care products are independently certified by Vegan Australia. My top favourites (and there are many) are: Hyaluronic Marine Serum for its lightweight yet dewy finish. and their new Calming Collection which is excellent for hypoallergenic or stressed skin.

What about the kids; what natural skincare do they use?
My five-year-old has very sensitive skin. She is allergic to eggs, peanuts and suffers from eczema from processed foods and some soaps and detergents. Her skin is predominantly dry, itchy, and irritated. So, as well as watching her diet we also lather her in marigold cream before bedtime.

Where do you get your recommendations from?
Close friends. Word of mouth, I find, is how I know about most beauty products. How fun is it to do a beauty bag spill with your girlfriends and discover new bits and bobs?!

Being a mum can be tiring, what’s your natural skincare/beauty antidote to tired looking skin?
Firstly, I love to jump in the ocean every single day if it’s an option, the sea is always the best way for me to feel alive again. A shower and massaging soothing eye gel around my eyes seem to do a world of wonders too. Using a Gua Sha or Derma Roller to wake up the skin when I moisturize is a nice addition too. Then coffee – it’s natural too, right?

Can you let us in on your favourite natural beauty tips, tricks and secrets?
I’m not sure it’s much of a big secret but I always think a “glow” comes from within. A positive outlook towards the day, an inner joy. It radiates in your body and your skin and your general demeanor. Mediation helps me to relax and compartmentalise too, but sometimes just a simple smile is a great place to start.

MEG HARRIS

Founder of conscious PR consultancy MHPR, Meg is also the doting mother of (almost) two year old twins, Bodhi and Willow.

What does natural skincare mean to you?
To me, natural skincare is about choosing products with ingredients that are as close to nature as possible.

What was the catalyst for you  choosing natural skincare?
I started to really consider the ingredients of my beauty products about five years ago just because I was really invested in my health and wellness, and skincare was part of that. Then when I fell pregnant my skin went absolutely ballistic! It was very sensitive, I was breaking out, and the only thing that got it under control was stripping my regime back to a basic one with just a few simple, natural products.

What about the kids; what natural skincare do they use?
I’ve always used exclusively natural products on the kids. When they were tiny, I loved the Weleda Calendula range of creams and oils.  Moo Goo is a go-to for moisturiser and sunscreen. The Base Collective has a beautiful Magnesium and Lavender range for little ones – I swear the Baby Balm makes them sleep better! We use Malo Nappy Creme and now that we are toilet training the spray version is handy for making a flushable wipe out of toilet paper.

Is there a new product(s) or a brand within the natural beauty space that you’re in love with right now?
It’s not so new now but I’m late to the party – currently a little bit obsessed with Go-To Skincare’s Removalist Clay Mask. I’ve always loved the ritual of a face mask and this one feels like it really detoxes without stripping my skin. Though I have to wait until the kids are in bed to pop it on because they’re terrified of it!

Is the natural skincare movement breaking ground; do you think there’s more awareness now around the benefits of natural skincare now, and how far have we still got to go?
Absolutely, natural skincare was so niche five years ago and much of it was ineffective, the texture wasn’t quite right, or it smelled funny. There are so many great natural skincare brands on the market now and it’s becoming much more mainstream.

Do you think there are any common misconceptions around natural skincare that might prevent people from moving across from conventional skincare routines?
I think a common misconception about natural skincare is that it’s not effective, and that’s just not true. You also don’t have to be one or the other either, you can replace some of your conventional skincare products with more natural ones. Little changes can have a big impact.

JULIA CACCIOTTI

Julia is full time mum to the very sweet 9 month old Margot.

What has been your skin journey since falling pregnant?
When I fell pregnant, my naturopath suggested some food changes and other supplements, and my skin transformed. I was used to dealing with some acne pre-baby but I think the combination of changing hormones and a better diet have transformed my skin. I eat mostly organic and wholefoods, lots of bone broth, fish and super greens. I’ve also discovered drinking 2litres+ of water a day will change your skin. It’s not so much about what you’re putting on your skin, it’s more about what you’re feeding your body, that’s going to make your body glow.

Is there a new product(s) or a brand within the natural beauty space that you’re in love with right now?
I use Emma Lewisham. I wanted to protect my baby and myself from any nasty chemicals when I fell pregnant, and I just loved her products. I also love that her whole business concept is around circular beauty so everything’s recyclable and refillable. I use her Supernatural Moisturiser, the Exfoliant Cleanser and then I’m also using the Skin Reset and the Vitamin A Renewal Face Oil as well. I’m loving those. Another great product I love is Four Cow Farm, it’s by a midwife in QLD and all their products are natural. They’ve got a great Calendula Balm that I use just if I have any redness or if the baby has any redness. I feel like that’s good for us.

What about the kids; what natural skincare do they use?
We use Gaia products and quite sparingly, just because she has such beautiful skin, and she hasn’t really needed anything specific. All the Gaia products are natural, and their packaging is also recyclable. We’ve been using Tooshies for wipes and nappies and we love those because they’re organic and bamboo, and compostable. That makes me feel good because I’m doing something that’s helping the environment. There’s so much waste with having a baby!

Do you read labels? How do you check the products you are using are natural?
I was using acne.org to cross check the ingredients of anything I put on my face to see if there was anything that may not be good for my skin.

Being a mum can be tiring, what’s your natural skincare/beauty antidote to tired looking skin?
Do Gua Sha on your face, it honestly changes your skin so much. A little tool like that can make such a difference. A warm shower followed by a saline spray on your eyes can help! Eco by Sonia Driver Face Tan Water is also great. Put some of that on before bed and sometimes that extra glow will just perk you up and make you feel a little more alive.

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